10 Tips for Grand Canyon Rafting Trips

After reading about all of the safety procedures that deal with human waste, you may be anxious to learn about bathing procedures. When you've spent many hours working in the heat and battling the river, you and your fellow trip mates will work up a smelly sweat.

Some of the side streams may look cleaner and nicer than the Colorado River, but you're not allowed to use soap in them (or even within 100 yards of them). Luckily, you can use soap in the main river. Because the water is so cold, however, you'll want to waste no time. It's be most comfortable to wash yourself in a low-tide area and walk into the river for a quick rinse.

Of course, the most important part of personal hygiene is keeping your hands clean to prevent the spread of bacteria and disease. We've already mentioned this, but it's important to wash your hands when preparing food, treating water and after defecating.

Solar Shower

Most people don't consider bathing in the freezing water fun. But you do have another option. If you're an avid outdoors adventurer, you probably already know about the solar shower. These are simple contraptions that consist of a water-filled black bag that can soak up the warmth of the sun during the day for a pleasant shower in the evening. You can also buy stands that hold the bag over your head. The NPS permits solar showers if they're set up in the main river. You can't use them on the beach, because this would leave soap behind.